Nation/World Briefs

September 21, 2006

NATIONAL BRIEFINGNASA clears shuttle for landing after crew inspects exterior CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (LAT) -- NASA officials on Wednesday cleared the space shuttle Atlantis to land this morning after two final inspections of the spacecraft's outer skin turned up no evidence of damage from space debris. Atlantis had been scheduled to land Wednesday. The landing was waved off when astronauts on Atlantis saw a piece of debris floating away from the shuttle. The six-person crew spent much of Wednesday inspecting the craft using a robotic arm equipped with a television camera and a boom extension fitted with a laser scanner able to reveal tiny imperfections. "I really am very confident we are in good shape," said Paul Dye, the shuttle's lead flight director at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The first opportunity to land in central Florida was at 6:21 a.m. EDT. NATIONAL BRIEFINGBush describes Palestinians' Abbas as 'man of courage' NEW YORK (AP) -- President Bush on Wednesday called embattled Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas a "man of courage" for trying to revive Mideast peace talks despite a continued political stalemate with Hamas militants. On the sidelines of a U.N. General Assembly meeting, Bush tried to breathe new life into negotiations to resolve the long-running conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. Supporting the moderate Abbas was Bush's final undertaking before returning to Washington. "In order to achieve this vision, there must be leaders willing to speak out and act on behalf of people who yearn for peace, and you are such a leader, Mr. President," Bush said after his 40-minute meeting with Abbas at a New York hotel. "I can't thank you enough for the courage you have shown." Israel wants to reopen a serious dialogue with Abbas and work with him to establish a Palestinian state. But Abbas has been in a weakened position since January when Hamas, which seeks the destruction of Israel, won the Palestinian elections. Abbas retains his position as president but he is caught between Hamas and the West, which considers Hamas a terrorist group and refuses to underwrite it with vital international aid. INTERNATIONAL BRIEFINGNew top judge in Saddam case orders former leader out of court BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The new chief judge in the Saddam Hussein genocide trial threw the former Iraqi president out of court Wednesday, and his lawyers stormed out in protest. A leading human rights group charged the government's decision to replace the former chief judge, Abdullah al-Amiri, threatens the independence of the troubled tribunal. Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa presided Wednesday after the government removed al-Amiri, who angered Kurds by declaring last week that Saddam was "not a dictator." INTERNATIONAL BRIEFINGBahamas alters inquest system after complaints on Smith case NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) -- Authorities said Wednesday they have overhauled their system for medical inquests and reassigned the coroner handling the death of Anna Nicole Smith's son amid complaints the former reality TV star had gotten special treatment. Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez said that judicial officials decided to change the system so that more judges can preside over inquests in part because of complaints that head coroner Linda Virgill scheduled an Oct. 23 inquest just three days after the death of Daniel Smith. Gomez, in an interview with The Associated Press, said the government began receiving complaints shortly after Virgill announced the date of the inquest to determine whether criminal charges should be filed in the Smith case. Gomez also said the Oct. 23 inquest may be canceled if tests show that Smith, 20, died of natural causes while he was visiting his mother after she gave birth to a daughter at a hospital in Nassau.